Brush and rake unit for golf greens



Dec. 30, 1 41, D. GORMLEY "ET AL 2,268 250 BRUSH -AND RAKE UNIT FOR GOLF GREENS Filed Oct. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTORS. .DA N GO/PML E) LA WRENC'E J. MA 225/ Hf/VPY .E' HATHOP/VE' BY I I 4 W ATTO EY Dec; 30, 1941.

- BRUSH AND RAKE UNIT FOR GOLF GREENS Filed 'Oct. 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v IN VEN TORS.

DA N CFO PM L E Y LA WRENCE J MA 2267 I BYHENR Y F. H4 TA/OQNE f ATTORN Y D. GOIMLEY ETVAL 2,268,250-

it iSlfOuIld necessary to brushthe greens. againiit is necessary from time to time to apply. what is known as top dressing to the turf and this must be raked, brushed or manipulatedlin some way to spread it evenly {in the grass was Patented Dec. 30, 1941 BRUSH ANDRAKEJJNITFOR GOLF "GREENS Dan iGormley, San Francisco, and Henry F.

. Hathorne and Lawrence J: MztzzeLfiSan Bruno,

Galifi, assignors 'of one-fourth tovsaidgGormley, A one-fourth to said Hathorne, one-fourth: to i said Mazzei, and one Colma, Calif.

Application. October 6, 1939,;Serial No. 29 ,250 f M V .soiaimado 56-}40014) invention relates: to a brush and rake unit for golf greens and'like turfd The invention has for one of its objects the provision oianeflicient meansifor the care and maintenance: of golf greensand like turf-s. .It' is an object of this inventionto provide a brush and rake unit wherein the two elements may be used together or separately and toinclude therein simplified means whereby the device may be quickly converted for its several uses.

In the care and maintenance'of golf green and like turfs it is necessary togive them considerable treatment beyond mere mowing; For

instance, as the turf becomes matted'it is necessary to. thin the grass out to aerate the roots and preserve the smooth surfacei Additionally,

not to interfere with the normaluse to which the turf is put. 'Inthe care of golf greens the above note'd steps must be taken frequently and regularly because it is essential that'evennessoi texture and grain must be at all times mainand maintenance of grass plots, golf greens and the like, to the end that any rakingor brushing job incidental to the treatmentof the turf thereof maybe done more thoroughly, morequickly and at considerably less cost. Our invention con templates the use of a brushmaintained in fixed relation to the frame of the power unit and a rake element which is adjustable to threepositions for separate or combineduse with the brush.

These and other objectsof our invention will become more apparent as this specification proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1. is a side elevation of a conventional powerun'itto which 'thesubject-matter'of this 2 55 invention is shownatta'ched,

"Fig. Z'isatop plan view oi our brush andrake unit,:. r i

Fig. 3 is. a vertical section through our device showingtwo :of thethree positions to which the rakelielement may be adjusted,

Fig.4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of our device, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2, and i Fig.1 5* is a front elevation of a modificationof the rake adjustment means. i

As abo ve stated, the device oftour invention is adapted to be attachedto any of the well-known and commonly used small horse power units now commercially available tojdrive grass mowers, sickles and the like. That illustrated as an examplecomprises a motor 10, mounted on a frame H,a chain drive t2, the driven-wheels Hand 2. pair of handle bars 14 forvmaneuvering the unit. It will beappreciated as this specification proceedsthat our brush and rake attachment may be utilizedtiniconjunction with any like power unit.

As will benoted from. Figsll and '3, the ends ofth'e frame .11 of the power unit project forwardly or the wheels 13, and. are connected by thecurved cross-baror spanner [5. The brush it iisisupported between the ends of a pair of frame members 11 rigidly connected at their opposite endstothe power unit frame I I. These auxiliary frames If! project downwardly from frame H :to support the brushclfi. in a turf engaging, position .(see Figs. 1. and 3) i and comprise angle irons l8 and the hollow barmembersdfl, bolted or otherwise, secured together.

7 The angle. irons l8 terminate short of the point of connection of members I9 to frame II and the latter. connection is effected in known manner, such. by welding. Additionally, the connection. between members I9 and frame II is reinforced "by the provision of the plates 20 spamming these elements and secured thereto, as by.bolting.. sWhiIein the illustrated form the device1of :our invention. is shown permanently attached to;the frameof the power unit, it will 'bequnderstood that this is not essential, since if built as a detachable unit the device will function satisfactorily: provideclthe connecting means employed will furnish the required rigidity.

supportedbythe plate 22 and: retained thereon the strap 2'! which are bolted together.

by the clamps 24 bolted to the back 2| of brush Hi.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the brush l6 becomes a rigidly connected part of the power unit and that by balancing with the handle bars M the brush may be maintained in a turf engaging position or raised therefrom as desired.

The rake element consists in a plurality of' -10 The teeth 25 clamped between the angle iron 26 and support for the rake 25 consists in a pair of drag bars 23 having hinged connections29 to the brush back and the vertical adjustment means about to be described' v Adjustment of the rake to any one of the three positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 is accomplished by vertical movement of the rods 33 disposed on opposite sides ofthe unit (Fig. 2). Each of these rods has a ball and socket or other type universal joint connection 3| with the angle iron 26 forming a part of the mount for. the

rake, Theupper ends of the rods 30 project through the angle irons l8 and the brackets 32 thereon and are threaded to engage the adjustment nuts 33. Eachof' the rods 30 is provided with a coil spring 34 disposed thereon between the bracket 32 and theuniversal joint 3l'.

' Adjustment of the rake in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '3,v that is to say, out of engagement'withthe' turf, is accomplished by turning the adjustment'nut33 to raise the rod 30 and compressing the spring 34. Lowering the rake into the turf engaging positions illustrated in Figs.:3 and 1 is accomplished by unscrewing rake 25 and maintain the brush l6 clear of the green.,

It, will also be appreciated that our invention may take many forms in addition to that shown and described and therefore we desire full protection in accordance with the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A turf brush and rake attachment for a self-propelled wheeled vehicle having a frame and handle bars affixed at the rear end thereof, comprising: a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to the main vehicle frame, a

turf brush rigidly connected to the forward end ofthe auxiliary frame, a rake hingedly connected the nut 33 to permit coil spring 34 to expand pushing the rake 25 downwardly.

. In-Fig. 5 there is shown a modification of the rake adjustment means in the form of asingle medially disposed rod 30. In this instance they rod is connected at its lower end to the rake frame member 26 by means of an A-shaped bracket 35. The upper end of the rod projects through auhorizontal frame member 36,'which in turn is connected to frame ll (not shown) and is threaded for engagement with the adjustment nut33. Being provided with a coil spring ment of the position of the rake 25 is effected by turning the adjustment nut' 33. Thus the adjustment of the position of rake 25 can be more quickly made.

It will be appreciated that while we have shown the adjustment of the rake as being effected by the movement of the rod 30, the adjustment can be effected bya number of other means. For examplethe adjustmentcould be made by means of a latch mechanismmovableinto three fixed positions, to shift the rake 25 in relation to the brush l6. Hence, the form of adjustment shown is to be regarded as illustrative only.

' The operation of our device is as follows: If it be desired to brush the turf,.the rake 25 is adjusted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. If it be desired to simultaneously brush and rake the turf, the rake is adjusted into the turf engaging position shown in Fig. 3. When' to said brush and extending rearwardly therefrom, a rodconnected at its lower end for universal movement with said rake, the upper end of said rod projecting through said auxiliary .frame and being threaded, an adjustment nut engaging the projected threaded portion of said rod-and a coil spring on said rod between said auxiliary frame and said connection with said rake. i

2. A turf brush and rake attachment for a self-propelled wheeled vehicle having a frame and handle bars affixed at the rear end thereof, comprising: ajdownwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to .the vehicle frame, a turf brush rigidly connected to the forward end of the auxiliary frame, a rake hingedly connected to-said brushcand projecting rearwardly there-.

from, and a connection between the auxiliary frame and the rake operable to swing the rake about its pivotal connection to said brush.

3. A turf brush. and rake attachment for a self-propelled wheeled vehicle having a frame and handle bars affixed at the rear end thereof, comprising: a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to the main vehicle frame, a turf brush supported at the forward end of the auxiliary frame, arake disposed behind said 34,, between frame member 36 and bracket 35, vertical movement of the rod 30 to effect adjustbrush and under said auxiliary frame and supported for pivotal movement in relation to said brush, and a connection between theauxiliary frame and said rake operable to swing said rake about its pivotal support. 7

4. A turf brush and rake attachment for a wheeled vehicle having a frame, comprising: a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to the vehicle frame, a brush supported at the lower end of the auxiliary frame, a rake hingedly connected to said brush, said rake having a connection with said auxiliary frame operable to swing the rake about its hinged connection with said brush.

5. A turf. brush and rake attachment for a self-propelled Wheeled vehicle having a frame and handle bars affixed at the rear end thereof, comprising: a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to the vehicle frame, a brush rigidly attached to the lower end of the auxiliary frame, said brushbeing movable into and from turf engaging positions upon manipulation ofhicle, handle bars attached to the rear end of the frame, a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame member rigidly attached to the forwardend of the main frame, a brush supported at the end of the auxiliary frame, a rake hingedly connected '7. A turf brush and rake attachment for a wheeled vehicle having a frame,comprising: a

downwardly projecting auxiliary frame con-i nected to the vehicle frame, a brush supported at the lower end of the auxiliary frame, a rake hingedly connected to said brush, and a connection between said auxiliary frame and said rake operable to move said rakefrom inoperativeposition to operative position with said brush and to operative position wherein said brush is rendered inoperative.

8. A turf brush and rake attachment for a wheeled vehicle having a frame, comprising: a downwardly projecting auxiliary frame connected to the vehicle frame, a brush supported at the lower end of the auxiliary frame, a rake, and a connection between said auxiliary frame and vsaid rake operable to move said rake from inoperative to operative position with said brush and to operative position wherein said brush is rendered inoperative.

DAN GORMLEY. HENRY F. HATHORNE. LAWRENCE J. MAZZEI. 

